A Closer Look at OC United Current Events
“We see you, you are not alone” by Stacie MacDonald In the last year we launched 5 Care Communities for 5 different foster or adoptive families. A Care Community is a small team of people who volunteer to wrap around a foster, adoptive or kinship family for a year. The team provides practical, emotional and […]
A letter from Fullerton Police Department by Captain Jose Arana #1176 Members of the Fullerton Police Department and myself, Captain Jose Arana, have engaged in a positive and ongoing relationship with the OC United organization and its diverse employees. The relationship between the Fullerton Police Department and OC united was developed and solidified approximately two […]
The Art of Celebration by Heather Macleod Do you remember your favorite birthday party? What stood out to you the most about that party? Was it the food? Was it the decorations? Maybe it was a favorite gift you received or a surprise guest that came you weren’t expecting. I can tell you from personal […]
The Pumpkin Run 5K Story by Chris Baeza The sun is barely rising over the horizon. Runners are checking in to begin the festivities. It’s cold. You can see the cool chill in the air through each conversation. Families and single runners alike circle the event grounds before the race begins. One Grinch appears with […]
“Never Giving Up” [ Millie’s Story ] Jobs for Life just graduated a set of new students a little over two weeks ago and we are so excited to see where our graduates end up. It has been exciting to walk through the program with these wonderful students and see them grow. A standout student […]
HOME(less) ALONE Blog by Mike Carman Finding a problem is usually pretty easy to do. Finding a solution can be more difficult. And carrying out that solution more difficult still. Recognizing homelessness as a problem in our communities is pretty simple these days. However, effective answers that benefit all parties are tougher to articulate, and […]
May the 4th Be With You On Saturday May 4th, also known as Star Wars Day, close to 6,000 people throughout ten cities will be joining together. People from every sector of the city and all walks of life will be there: residents, businesses, city workers, elected officials, scouts, faith communities, youth groups, service clubs, […]
You are welcome and you are worthy. What do you think of when you hear the word “Christmas”? Many people think of Christmas presents, trees, music, cookies, traditions, and celebrations. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for everyone. The Christmas season is painful, lonely, and shaming for many individuals who have experienced domestic abuse, homelessness, under-resourced […]
For many current and former foster youth, the holidays are not looked upon with joyful anticipation, but rather as a sad time of year that triggers traumatic memories of absence, loss, abandonment and abuse. A time of year that traditionally brings intact families together to shareGod’s blessings, kindness and love with one another may have little meaning to a foster youth who has not experienced the holidays this way, and instead senses a season filled with pain and hurt. Many youth wish simply for the season to pass quickly and their feelings of loss and sadness to diminish. Instead of dwelling on what might have been and longing for something more now, they would rather put it behind them and move on into the New Year.
She looked around the room in awe and said, “it’s perfect”. This past weekend we had the incredible privilege of hosting a wedding for two of our THRIVE participants. The bride grew up in the foster system, bouncing between multiple residential facilities never finding a place to call home or being a part of a […]